M.L.S. Playoffs: Crew Beat Red Bulls, and N.Y.C.F.C. Falls to Atlanta

Gyasi Zardes scored his 20th goal of the year, and the Columbus Crew fought off fatigue and the visiting Red Bulls, 1-0, on Sunday in the first leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

The second leg is scheduled for Sunday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J.

Zardes scored the game’s only goal in the 61st minute, a sliding finish of a back-heel pass from the second-half substitute Federico Higuain. Higuain had been rested in the first half by Columbus Coach Gregg Berhalter, a bold bit of restraint prompted by the Crew’s taxing first-round win over D.C. United in a penalty-kick shootout on Thursday night.

The Red Bulls, the Supporters’ Shield winners after posting the best record in the regular season, had not played since Oct. 28.

The Red Bulls’ best scoring chance before that was in the 27th minute, when Tim Parker headed a corner kick off the post. The ball then deflected off Steffen and was cleared away.

The Red Bulls had earned a bye after securing their third Supporters’ Shield title in six seasons. The Crew are the only Eastern Conference team the Red Bulls have not beaten this year.

The teams have met three previous times in the postseason, with the Crew winning each time.

ATLANTA UNITED 1, N.Y.C.F.C. 0 Eric Remedi scored his first M.L.S. goal in the 37th minute to lift Atlanta United past New York City F.C. in the first leg of an Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Atlanta, which has won 11 of its 18 road games this season, is set to host the second leg next Sunday.

Remedi tapped in a rebound after Josef Martinez’s one-touch shot was blocked by Sean Johnson and settled against the post.

Johnson made a big save against Greg Garza on a breakaway during second-half stoppage time.

Miguel Almiron appeared to open the scoring in the 20th minute but his goal was disallowed after a video replay ruled Atlanta was in an offside position during the buildup to the shot.

N.Y.C.F.C. has reached the conference semifinals in three straight seasons but has lost the first leg in each.

TIMBERS 2, SOUNDERS 1 Sebastian Blanco put Portland in front with a goal in the 29th minute, and the Timbers hung on through a tense second half, taking the advantage in the first leg of their Western Conference semifinal series against visiting Seattle.

The second leg is set for Thursday in Seattle. The Sounders may have injury concerns for that game: Cristian Roldan had to leave Sunday’s game in the 31st minute with a groin injury, and Seattle also lost Chad Marshall with a right knee injury before halftime.

Raul Ruidiaz scored in the 10th minute, giving the Sounders an early lead. But the Timbers pulled even a short time later on Jeremy Ebobisse’s goal, and Blanco then maneuvered around several defenders and beat goalkeeper Stefan Frei, putting Portland in front.

The Timbers thought they had another goal in the 80th minute on Lucas Melano’s rebound, but it was called offside.

REAL SALT LAKE 1, SPORTING K.C. 1 Diego Rubio scored on a long-range strike in the 60th minute, seconds after entering as a substitute, and the Western Conference champion Sporting Kansas City tied Real Salt Lake in Game 1 of their two-legged semifinal.

It was Rubio’s first possession since entering as a sub. Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando’s clearance attempt was deflected by a hustling Felipe Gutierrez and Rubio settled it, took a touch and sent it inside the far post. Albert Rusnak scored for Real in the 52nd minute with a stunning volley after a sharp passing exchange with Damir Kreilach.

Red Bulls Roll Past New York City F.C.
HARRISON, N.J. — Alejandro Romero Gamarra had a goal and two assists to help the Red Bulls dominate their crosstown rival, New York City F.C., 4-0, in the New York derby on Saturday […]

Red Bulls Clinch M.L.S. Regular-Season Title
The Red Bulls edged visiting Orlando City on Sunday to claim the Supporters’ Shield as Major League Soccer’s regular-season champion.The Red Bulls took advantage of a rare stumble by […]

A New Atlanta, United by Soccer
Once the $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened, the players had spacious facilities and anything else they needed on site. But the team liked the idea of a grand arrival, so the […]